The Emporium is named for its location – “VIX” (with a bar over the V) is the Roman numeral for 5009, our address on Baltimore Avenue.

In the 1940 -60s, this shop was a millinery, or ladies’ hat maker. The space retains its original built-in lighted, mirrored cabinetry from that era, which is pictured as a border for this page. We’ve also collected some surviving hat labels, hat boxes and bags, marked J.M. Grumbine Millinery 5009 Baltimore Ave. West Philadelphia.